The lows just keep getting lower.
No one led by more than four through the first 19 minutes of the game. But a personal 8-0 run by Penn State’s Ace Baldwin, Jr. gave the Lions a 40-32 edge with :25 seconds left in the first half. IU cut that deficit to two, 56-54 with 10:06 remaining in the game, but PSU responded with seven unanswered, and the Hoosiers would never get closer than six.
Let’s take a deeper look at how IU lost 83-74 with another edition of The Report Card.
Indiana (14-13, 6-10) will next host Wisconsin on Tuesday evening in Bloomington.
COACHING (C)
There isn’t much at this point a coach can do about a lack of guard depth and a team that doesn’t shoot the ball well. It’s a broken record now, but Mike Woodson certainly isn’t wowing anyone with his creativity or ability to find answers on the offensive end.
The IU head coach did wisely emphasize Malik Reneau on the offensive end against smaller Penn State forwards.
Woodson made the suspect decision to sit Mackenzie Mgbako for the final 14 minutes of the first half with two fouls. By contrast, Penn State star Ace Baldwin picked up two early fouls and played all 40 minutes. He was probably the most impactful player on the floor, especially when IU had Anthony Leal guarding him.
And Woodson couldn’t win. He chose to keep Kel’el Ware in the game with three fouls and he quickly picked up a fourth. Baldwin and Penn State thrived at the rim when Ware was out.
Woodson’s decision to play Payton Sparks when Ware went out was questionable since Penn State doesn’t play two big men.
OFFENSE (C)
Indiana was dominant inside the paint, horrible outside of it. That’s a high-risk, low-reward combination, especially when you pound the ball inside, look to draw fouls, and can’t make free throws while your opponent makes nine threes.
When Indiana did go to a smaller lineup in the second half with one big and some four and five-out sets, the offense improved. That’s when a nine-point deficit became two. Overall in the second half, IU shot 56.7 percent and committed just four turnovers.
But it would take more than a brief stretch of better play to survive a game of 13 percent three-point shooting and 56 percent at the foul line.
Indiana scored 1.06 points per possession. That was significantly aided by 64 percent shooting inside the arc including 16-of-25 from Malik Reneau and Kel’el Ware. But the IU offense is just too singular and predictable to cause any real stress on a defense.
DEFENSE (C)
Penn State’s offense didn’t blitz IU like we saw in Bloomington, but they were still able to be productive, especially with Ware out of the paint.
There were 44 total fouls in the game, including 23 on IU. That led to 30 Penn State free throws and their fourth highest free throw rate (FTA/FGA) of the season. The Nittany Lions seemed a step quicker than IU at every position, and that is part of the story with the excessive fouling. 22 of the 30 free throws came via Penn State guards. And PSU capitalized at the line, making 26-of-30 free throws.
The Nittany Lions were also efficient from beyond the arc, making 9-of-21 (42.9 percent). Indiana was slow to close-out at times, and they had some coverage mishaps.
IU gave up 1.19 points per possession, and that’s nothing new. They’ve allowed 1.03 or more in their last ten games, and they’ve lost eight of those ten.
MORE GAME COVERAGE
- Indiana’s shooting woes exemplify the problems Mike Woodson’s having
- Video and transcript: Here’s what Mike Woodson said following loss at Penn State
- IU basketball: Penn State 83 Indiana 74 — Three keys, highlights, final stats
THE PLAYERS
*Trey Galloway (C) Galloway suffered a first half injury but returned. Much like the team is predictable from game-to-game, Galloway had a familiar day, with a lot of things to like but also shooting and free throw struggles. And as we say each game, there is no questioning the effort, and in this case, Galloway’s willingness to sacrifice his body.
*Mackenzie Mgbako (C) It was in part because Woodson fouled him out of the first half, but Mgbako just wasn’t much of a factor in this game. He did avoid turnovers, but he couldn’t avoid fouls. And IU’s best shooter at the stripe joined the free throw struggles.
*Malik Reneau (B) Reneau was able to pick on some smaller defenders in the paint. His free throw shooting was improved. He’s another player you know is always giving effort. But he did have four turnovers and struggled at times guarding the perimeter in some tough matchups.
*Kel’el Ware (B) Ware was dominant when he was on the floor, but he wasn’t able to stay there. The game turned when he sat with two fouls. He seemed intent on playing with a more aggressive style, and at least when it came to fouling, it backfired.
*Gabe Cupps (C) Cupps was sound against the press for most of his minutes, and he was pretty good staying in front of the ball on defense. But he wasn’t able to pose a threat offensively.
Anthony Leal (C-) Leal provided some good moments as a facilitator and helped out on the glass. But he also had three turnovers in 18 minutes. You can’t blame him for struggling to guard Baldwin. That’s not a matchup he should have to deal with.
C.J. Gunn (D) Gunn was able to provide some sparks on the defensive end, but he was unable to find a rhythm shooting the basketball and lost some PSU shooters.
Anthony Walker and Payton Sparks saw limited action.
Kaleb Banks did not play, coach’s decision.
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Xavier Johnson (elbow) was out. Jakai Newton (knee) is out long-term.
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